Reviewer’s Section

Author(s) :

Sujith S , Sreedevi R , Suja Rani. S , Juliet, S.

Volume/Issue :

Volume 1

,

Issue 3

(03 - 2015)

Abstract :

Tamarind (Tamarindus indica, Fabaceae), a tropical fruit found in Africa and Asia is highly valued for its pulp. The in-vitro antimicrobial and in- vivo acute oral toxicity of different extracts of Tamarind seed coat was assessed. The seed coat was extracted using methanol and water and the methanolic extract was then fractionated using different solvents based on the increasing strength of polarity. The phytochemical analysis of the extracts was done qualitatively using standard techniques. Agar gel dilution technique was used to find out the antibacterial and antifungal activities against the various pathogens of veterinary and human importance. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration was determined by broth dilution and serial dilution plate technique for bacteria and fungi respectively. The extracts were given orally at the limit dose of 2000 mg/kg to adult Wistar rats to find the acute oral toxicity. Well defined margins of inhibition were obtained with MIC of 3.125 -12.5 for the crude alcoholic extract and its fractions. The fractions of the methanolic extract showed inhibition of P. multocida and C. neoformans at dose rate of 3.125 mg/ml. The aqueous extract showed less activity when compared to the alcoholic extract. None of the animals showed any clinical signs of toxicity. Hence the seed coat can be further exploited for its use as a good antimicrobial agent.